Discover the power of laughter for our well-being. It’s an opportunity to cultivate and harness our own innate sense of joy through unconditional laughter, playfulness and connection. And whilst we’re cultivating and harnessing, chuckling and chortling we are changing our physiology and psychology. There is no doubt that laughter changes us personally but we can also use it to inspire, nurture and create a more joyful, connected and peaceful world

This motivational talk from Joe Quigley is going to be a genuine account of the journey, and challenges involved during the process of becoming a vegan. As a coach, Joe has spent a lot of time on the road eating whatever came easiest but is now making the transition from “normal” food to the cruelty free and healthier alternative.

A hectic day hunched over a keyboard can put great strain on our bodies and minds. In this yin yoga session, Nat will focus on balancing the yang energies that are cultivated in the busy workplace. By holding the poses for 3-5 minutes and allowing the body to open up and invite us to go deeper into our practice we achieve optimal health and a calmed mind. Includes take-to-work breathing exercises to do at your desk to remain stress free. All levels welcome, no experience required

This motivational talk from Joe Quigley is going to be a genuine account of the journey, and challenges involved during the process of becoming a vegan. As a coach, Joe has spent a lot of time on the road eating whatever came easiest but is now making the transition from “normal” food to the cruelty free and healthier alternative

TALKS – Spark Room (Upstairs)

12pm: Vegangelical

Ever wondered what makes slaughterhouse workers, butchers, farmers or those in ‘meat’ processing tick? Come & hear Doug Maw (Vegangelical), talk about his journey from animal agriculture to animal activist. Doug relays his journey through a very personal testimony & explains why he believes that nobody is incapable of change. He tells us how his life has changed & why his faith can be used to bring more people to veganism

By Doug Maw

1pm: The Vegan Approach

Are you thinking about going vegan? Have you tried being vegan before but come across some challenges? Are you a new vegan? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then please join us at one of our Vegan Approach workshops. During the workshop we outline our 10 simple steps to start you on your vegan journey including what to buy, where to eat, and how to deal with family and friends. We will also answer any questions you have about going vegan.

TALKS – Grimshaw Room (Upstairs)

I started out on this journey around 4 years ago and the benefits to my health and lifestyle have been amazing, I even began to experience improved creativity, focus and productivity.

My company CUSTOM is a team of designers and builders specialising in eco and environmental projects. We often work on location in the Alps, London or the south of France and as a matter of course we work, rest and play together and more importantly in the context of this talk we eat together. So I got to thinking, could changing to a vegan lifestyle have the same positive effects on a company as it has had on an individual (me) ? … The results have been incredible

By Christo Brennan from the Vegan Build

https://www.theveganbuild.com

1pm: Veganism On The Map, How Do We Best Represent It? By Vegan Geezer

Exploring how veganism has become established within the mainstream, how it is viewed by others, and the different forms of advocacy/activism we are choosing to use and what can be strategically more effective

2pm: Veganism is WIN, WIN, WIN – Win for the Animals, Win for the Planet, Win for our Health

To many of us, it is all too clear that raising billions of animals to provide us with food and other products makes no sense at any level.

The cruel exploitation of the animals is entirely unacceptable, animal agriculture is the No 1 cause of environmental degradation and the human population is wracked with chronic diseases caused by the consumption of animal products.

In recent years, several documentaries have detailed the issues associated with animal agriculture and the consumption of animal products.

EARTHLINGS – our domination of other species of animals is shocking, unnecessarily exploitative and cruel.

COWSPIRACY – a huge amount of environmental degradation is down to animal agriculture.

FORKS OVER KNIVES – in America and many other parts of the world, humans are experiencing burgeoning levels of chronic conditions – coronary heart disease, cancers, obesity, diabetes etc. There is increasing evidence that all of these can be avoided and even reversed by a plant based diet.

More recently WHAT THE HEALTH has highlighted the incredible disregard for the link between what we eat and our health.

In other words, the future of mankind and our planet is in jeopardy if we continue to support animal agriculture by consuming meat, dairy and eggs and by using other animal products, such as leather.

The prospects would be much brighter if everyone was to adopt a VEGAN lifestyle.

In this talk, I will outline some of the evidence for this and explain why there can be no argument whatsoever against the urgent need for widespread veganism.

By Vegan Cyclist Mick Walker

3pm: Barefoot, Bitless, Whipless and Bearing Witness

Jane Antcliff-Wilson is a vegan animal rights activist, vegan author and advocate for the Save Movement. Her controversial book ‘Barefoot Bitless and Whipless’ challenges the cruelty, dominance and slavery hidden within traditional horse-keeping, and has been inspirational in leading people to veganism all over the world.

LIVE MUSIC (Outdoors)

Mobius Loop create gloriously eccentric gypsy folk stories, fusing world music and conscious rap with eruptions of free-form dance charged with an intimately powerful and intense energetic live performance. Mobius Loop are on a mission to raise positive vibrations, projecting an organic co-operative voice for humanist spirituality, vegan philosophy, grassroots philanthropy, true democracy and alchemical magic, in the name of Hemp Redemption and the infinite unknown.

Mobius Loop create gloriously eccentric gypsy folk stories, fusing world music and conscious rap with eruptions of free-form dance charged with an intimately powerful and intense energetic live performance. Mobius Loop are on a mission to raise positive vibrations, projecting an organic co-operative voice for humanist spirituality, vegan philosophy, grassroots philanthropy, true democracy and alchemical magic, in the name of Hemp Redemption and the infinite unknown.

Dedicated vegan Miranda started out as a solo artist in late 2015. After touring the UK and New York City solo throughout 2016 she went on to start work with Mercury Music Prize Award nominee Choque Hosein to record her self penned debut album ‘Ferine’. Miranda received the Peoples Choice Award at the Leeds Music Video Awards 2 years running for her expressive and eye catching music videos. The release of Miranda’s last single ‘Soul Price’ coincided with her being awarded ‘Social Impact Star’ at the Inspiring Women Changemakers Awards for the mental health campaigning she has done alongside & through her music. She is currently in rehearsals with her female strong live band to roll out Ferine live on tour in 2018

SUNDAY

NUTS – these bad boys, mostly known as the good FATS, are much more than only healthy snacks. Peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, macadamias, pistachios, Brazil nuts; they are all produced throughout the world. The European Snacks Association recognises that regular consumption of nuts is a part of a healthy and balanced diet and that nuts are an important source of nutrients, including fibre, minerals and vitamins. In fact, peanuts contain the most PROTEIN out of all nuts. Who doesn’t like crunchy peanut butter? You can create infinite protein-packed dishes and very yummy dressings, too.

Why should you learn how to cook only one dish? With the exact same ingredients, and a little creativity, you can make different nutritious and delicious recipes.

In this workshop, you will learn how to create sweet and savoury nut dressings (salted caramel drizzle and soy peanut dipping sauce) and how to put them together in 4 super-easy and enjoyable Summer dishes: chocolate protein smoothie bowl; choco-nutty protein oat bowl; mango-avocado rye toast; and fresh Vietnamese spring rolls. These dishes are perfect for everyone – for those with a sweet tooth, or salty taste buds!

In a nutshell, come join me and lets all go NUTS in the kitchen. Shall we?

Follow me on Instagram to see a sneak peak of this mouth-watering coming cooking workshop @katemtobar.

Eating foods rich in probiotics can boost the healthy bacteria in your digestive tract, which can help you fend off indigestion and other stomach troubles. Learn how to add probiotics into your cooking

Contrary to the thoughts of most, Indian food is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world when made the authentic way. The ancient scientific and holistic practice of Ayurveda teaches that a balanced diet should include six tastes, as together they include all elements that the body needs. BakeFree Bakery will be demonstrating how they make their authentic Indian curries and show how the six key elements of taste are put in every Indian dish using pure, fresh ingredients that heal and maintain good health. You will also have the opportunity to purchase a variety of their freezable curries on both days of the festival 🙂

TALKS – Grimshaw Room (Upstairs)

1pm: Veganism On The Map, How Do We Best Represent It? By Vegan Geezer

Exploring how veganism has become established within the mainstream, how it is viewed by others, and the different forms of advocacy/activism we are choosing to use and what can be strategically more effective

Vegan rugy player for Leeds Rhino’s will be talking about his journey to the vegan lifestyle and the stigmas that go alongside being a vegan athlete. As some people still find it hard to understand how he continues to maintain his body weight and performance on a plant based diet, Anthony will be talking about the misconceptions of the vegan diet in relation to being an athlete

by Leeds Rhino’s Anthony Mullally

3pm: The Happy Caterpillar: A Story of Raw Vegan Transformation

The Happy Caterpillar is a raw vegan movement created by Kim & Dean with the goal of inspiring people to transform towards their highest potential, through raw vegan catering, coaching and creativity.

K & D have been vegan for over 2 and 3 years respectively and have since transitioned to a mostly raw diet. Inspired by their own transformation and wanting to share this with the world, they both quit their previous 9-5 jobs and bought a campervan to travel and show people raw vegan food at vegan fairs as well as collaborations with The Real Junk Food Project and others

4pm: The SCHWAN Project by Caro and Steffi sharing our life changing journey

Going on a vegan and gluten-free diet changed our lives completely and we’d like to share our experiences and stories as well as our knowledge and insights about health, psychology and nutrition. As ongoing psychologists and vegan nutritionists, we hopefully are able to help other people on their journey to get a life full of Self-fulfilment, Consciousness, Health, Wellbeing and Awareness, in harmony with Nature

Pop in to this gentle flowing Hatha Yoga class to unwind tension from the body, mobilise your joints, and banish any lingering stress. Take these moments to realign your body and mind so you float through the rest of your day!

Jenny Croston from Yoga with Jen will be offering a free 45 minute open Yoga session. The session is open to Yoga newbies and those with an established practice. Focusing on gentle stretches and movement, all you need to join in is an open mind and a smile. Have a peek at www.jenyoga.co.uk, “Yoga with Jen” on Facebook or follow her on Instagram – leedsyogini to see what she’s about

Miz DeShannon is a qualified Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher, with a 200 hour RYT certificate from Sampoorna School in Agonda, India. Outside of that Miz has studied alignment, arm balances and inversions more than anything, all of which can come into her classes quite a lot! The Vinyasa sequences Miz teaches follow dynamic choreography, incorporating Ashtanga asanas and a strong focus on alignment which has always been important to Miz and is a much needed foundation for asana practice! Classes are always fun and always allow students to explore their own abilities, and focus on their breath and movement coordination, so are suitable for beginners and intermediate yogis too.

TALKS – Spark Room (Upstairs)

12pm: Sea Shepherd UK – Direct Action Marine Conservation

Sea Shepherd UK is a registered marine conservation charity whose primary mission is to end the destruction of habitats and illegal killing of wildlife around the UK’s coastline and across the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect marine ecosystems and species.

They use innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities committed against marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd UK also engaging in campaigns to help defend and restore coastal and marine areas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately balanced oceanic ecosystems, Sea Shepherd UK works to ensure their survival for future generations.

By Sea Shepherd UK

1pm: Barefoot, Bitless, Whipless and Bearing Witness

Jane Antcliff-Wilson is a vegan animal rights activist, vegan author and advocate for the Save Movement. Her controversial book ‘Barefoot Bitless and Whipless’ challenges the cruelty, dominance and slavery hidden within traditional horse-keeping, and has been inspirational in leading people to veganism all over the world.

Ever wondered what makes slaughterhouse workers, butchers, farmers or those in ‘meat’ processing tick? Come & hear Doug Maw (Vegangelical), talk about his journey from animal agriculture to animal activist. Doug relays his journey through a very personal testimony & explains why he believes that nobody is incapable of change. He tells us how his life has changed & why his faith can be used to bring more people to veganism

By Doug Maw

FILMS / Q and A – Waterman Room (Upstairs)

12pm: In Defense of Food

Journalist Michael Pollan examines the industrially driven Western diet to show how it has ruined our health, then offers solutions for the future

1 hour 55 minutes

2pm: Hunt Sabing Film followed by a Q and A

Q and A by North Wales Daffyd Hughes on Sabbing and undercover operations

3pm: Live and Let Live

This documentary examines man’s relationship to animals and the choice by some to embrace veganism, including a restauranteur and an Olympic cyclist

1 hour 20 minutes

LIVE MUSIC (Outdoors)

Mobius Loop create gloriously eccentric gypsy folk stories, fusing world music and conscious rap with eruptions of free-form dance charged with an intimately powerful and intense energetic live performance. Mobius Loop are on a mission to raise positive vibrations, projecting an organic co-operative voice for humanist spirituality, vegan philosophy, grassroots philanthropy, true democracy and alchemical magic, in the name of Hemp Redemption and the infinite unknown.

Mobius Loop create gloriously eccentric gypsy folk stories, fusing world music and conscious rap with eruptions of free-form dance charged with an intimately powerful and intense energetic live performance. Mobius Loop are on a mission to raise positive vibrations, projecting an organic co-operative voice for humanist spirituality, vegan philosophy, grassroots philanthropy, true democracy and alchemical magic, in the name of Hemp Redemption and the infinite unknown.

Isaac is a young up and coming musician from near Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.He plays the ukulele, piano and various other home-made instruments to get an array of unique sounds. Isaac has forged his own unique style with a range of anthems for all ages and an entire cast of quirky instruments, including the much beloved ukulele, and the less popular but just as humorous electric kazoo! He writes original witty songs on things he observes in his environment and his every day life, as well as covering other songs in ways never been done before. From the cheeky political ditties, to the just plain obscure singles he always entertains. His bold tongue-and-cheek sense of humour, flamboyant fashion and ludicrous ideas has left audiences across the U.K. He leaves audiences around the UK utterly bemused, slightly confused but extremely entertained and begging for more!